Jamil's heart clenches. He needs Kalim to stop saying things like that. Like--like it affects him in any way that Jamil might end up trapped in a job he hates. Jamil's the one who actually has to live it and he's been resigned to this since he was a child. The sooner Kalim comes to terms with what he should have realized the entire time, the sooner they can all get on with their sordidly predetermined little lives. Why does he even care?

It was almost easier when Kalim didn't know; then at least one of them was living in blissful ignorance. Now nothing has changed except both of them are miserable.

(Well, there's really only one person to blame for that one, huh?)

"Just laugh it off like you do with everything else. What makes this any different?"